Students Help Boost Fitness Of Firefighters
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday June 15, 2004
UNIVERSITY of Wollongong students are putting the state's firefighters through their paces under an innovative partnership.
For 10 exercise science students, it has meant travelling to far-flung locations from Broken Hill to Bega, Lismore to Mildura, and many places in between, to help deliver fitness testing.
For the more than 1000 National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) firefighters, it has meant walking up to 4.8km with heavily laden backpacks in remote and unfamiliar terrain.
Wollongong University Exercise Science and Rehabilitation Centre consultant manager Damien Perusco said the students had assisted the centre in delivering its contract to fitness test the firefighters from April to June.
``The students' role is to assist in the implementation of the tests. It was a very hands-on role that required them to be flown to remote locations," he said.
``It is an excellent example of utilising their skills in a commercial contract which is beneficial for their professional development, while at the same time they are enjoying themselves and travelling across the state.
``Hopefully they will be able to utilise their experiences into helping them to springboard into the workforce."
Mr Perusco said through the partnership with the university, the parks service had access to best practice in fitness testing.
NPWS head Dr Tony Fleming said fighting bushfires was a strenuous and demanding activity carried out in extreme weather conditions over long periods of time.
``Firefighters often work with rake-hoes and chainsaws on fire lines where the heat can be intense," he said.
``This new program is an important safety initiative to ensure that our firefighters are medically and physically able to carry out firefighting tasks.
``We are conducting the assessments during winter, which is not only good for hazard reduction burning but a good time to train for and complete these fitness assessments."
Acting ranger Dominic Adshead took part in the training, which involved three different fitness tests for different types of firefighters.
``Remote area firefighters, those who get dropped in by helicopter, do the most demanding work and have to do the arduous pack test where they have to carry a 20.4kg pack over 4.8km in under 45 minutes," he said.
``General firefighters have a moderate field test where they carry an 11.3kg pack over 3.22km in under 30 minutes.
``And people in lighter support roles - such as those who service equipment - have a lighter walk test where they have to walk 1.6km in 16 minutes with no pack."
Exercise science students Jenny Brown and Lisa Broman both gained from the program.
``It's great to work with people in a professional setting putting into practice some of the things we've learnt," Ms Brown said.
Ms Broman added: ``I'd never been out west before and being flown into remote areas of Broken Hill, Forbes and Bourke to conduct the testing was amazing."
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury